Guest view of Bob VanDeventer: National energy efficiency bill will save money, drive state and local economic development

Energy efficiency is a smart choice for Michigan’s electricity customers and businesses. More energy efficient buildings bring down electricity bills for Michigan families; create jobs, and drive economic development in Michigan’s communities.

Congress has an opportunity to help Michigan businesses be more competitive and spark new jobs and investment in Michigan by passing the bipartisan Energy Saving and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2013.

This bill, sponsored by U.S. Senators, Rob Portman [R-OH] and Jeanne Shaheen [D-NH], will encourage the use of energy efficiency technologies across our economy, including the residential, commercial and industrial sectors.

Veronica Horn, Saginaw County Chamber’s executive vice president, recently had the opportunity visit Washington, D.C., with a group of Michigan business leaders. She met with some of Michigan’s representatives in Congress to talk about the Shaheen-Portman bill and explain why this bill is good for Michigan.

The Shaheen-Portman bill promotes the use of low-cost efficiency technologies that are already commercially available and can be deployed in every state. These measures quickly pay for themselves through electricity savings.

That means that Michigan families can save money on their electricity bills.

According to the Michigan Public Service Commission, there is a savings of $3.55 for every $1 invested in energy efficiency.

It’s not just consumers who benefit. This bill will help grow Michigan’s businesses and economy by bringing down electricity bills for businesses, reducing their overhead costs and making them more competitive worldwide.

And because we can manufacture and install energy efficiency technology here in Michigan, the bill will drive investment in Michigan’s growing energy efficiency and advanced energy sectors, creating jobs and driving economic development for our state.

It helps speed the transition to a more energy efficient economy of the future.

Energy efficiency manufacturing already contributes $2.3 billion of economic activity to Michigan and the sector has the potential to continue to grow. The Shaheen-Portman bill will help Michigan and U.S. companies take the lead in this sector.

In Saginaw County, we’re uniquely positioned to benefit from the application of more energy efficiencies. We have older municipal buildings that could be converted to better energy efficiency, lower energy use, and thereby reducing costs to taxpayers.

Much of Saginaw County’s housing stock is made up of homes that need to be more energy efficient. The HOMES Act provision of Shaheen-Portman would provide a homeowner a rebate on investments that lower their energy usage by 20% and $1000 for each additional 5% decrease in energy use, up to $8000.

These kinds of incentives work to encourage homeowners to make their homes more energy efficient.

The Better Buildings Act provision of Shaheen-Portman would help get commercial landlords and tenants on the same page about the best energy savings practices to use when outfitting space for their tenants’ needs. The legislation encourages tenants and landlords to work hand-in-hand in making commercial buildings more efficient.

The Shaheen-Portman bill has broad national support and has been endorsed by the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, and nearly 250 groups ranging from businesses, trade associations, environmental groups, labor and the Christian Coalition of America.

The Shaheen-Portman bill is an opportunity for Congress to come together and pass a bipartisan bill that is good for consumers, businesses and our economy.

Bob VanDeventer is president & CEO of the Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce.